What DVD / Video did you watch last night? (pt3)

[andysays]

I'll see if I can find a download.

I watched the Cube which was a great little horror sci fi about a group trapped in a series of cube shaped rooms in a complex. No idea how they arrived, no food etc. They have to escape and some of the cubes are lethal. 6/10. Points deducted for being slightly too long and a bit stingy with the deaths

There are three Cube films, they're all on youtube (I think I posted a link on the youtube thread recently)

Also on youtube, I've recently been watching six part Granada doc about the Spanish Civil War, made in 1983, less than a decade after the death of Franco, and including loads of interviews with those involved in various ways and on various sides.

 

[Reno]

There are three Cube films, they're all on youtube (I think I posted a link on the youtube thread recently)]

The sequels are dross. The reason Cube is good is because it was made by Vincenzo Natali who is a genre film maker of some talent. It was his first film and it's a small gem of micro-budget ingenuity. The sequels are straight to video cash-ins by other people, which add nothing of interest. Instead of the Cube sequels, check out some other films by Natali like Cypher or Splice instead.

 

[krtek a houby]

Chocolat - Single mother tempts town with brazen chocolate retail outlet; Travellers throw rave on the river, much handwringing ensues.

Return to Oz - Dorothy up for electro therapy finds herself back in Oz where chums have been turned to stone, Narnia fashion.

Sugarland Express - Goldie Hawn springs husband about to be released to get baby back from the welfare people, lots of cops, cars and gun nuts follow. Possibly one of Spielberg's greatest films.

 

[Reno]

Sugarland Express - Goldie Hawn springs husband about to be released to get baby back from the welfare people, lots of cops, cars and gun nuts follow. Possibly one of Spielberg's greatest films.

I agree ! It was Spielberg's first feature film and it often gets forgotten about because his next film Jaws made such an impact and his previous film Duel was one of the best remembered TV movies ever made. Great film though with a career best performance by Hawn who was mainly known for comedy.

 

[krtek a houby]

I agree ! It was Spielberg's first feature film and it often gets forgotten about because his next film Jaws made such an impact and his previous film Duel was one of the best remembered TV movies ever made. Great film though with a career best performance by Hawn who was mainly known for comedy.

Goldie Hawn is excellent in that film; quite a revelation to me. For some reason; I thought it was going to be a screwball comedy vehicle. I am pleased that I was entirely wrong.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

Watched a film called Façade, made in 1999.

It is the first film I've seen in ages which is so bad it borders on genius. It is badly acted, badly shot, and badly plotted, but there is something about it that is so meticulously constructed that I could almost hear the writer's and director's brain ticking. There were some genuinely laugh out loud moments, lots on in-jokes relating to art, literature and music, and the whole film is clearly a victim of the post-Tarantino blues, but all the same, I thoroughly enjoyed it for being a totally bonkers slice of hollywood cinema.

 

[ringo]

Frankenstein - The Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh version.

Some crap additions to the book and Branagh over acts badly. Gave up half way through to watch Peep Show.

 

[Reno]

Frankenstein - The Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh version.

Some crap additions to the book and Branagh over acts badly. Gave up half way through to watch Peep Show.

It's not a good film but it is the most faithful adaptation of the novel to date. The only major addition is the creation of the "bride" which Frankenstein never manages to carry out in the book, but it includes a lot of characters and incidents from the novel which are not in the other film versions.

 

[ringo]

It's not a good film but it is the most faithful adaptation of the novel to date. The only major addition is the creation of the "bride" which Frankenstein never manages to carry out in the book, but it includes a lot of characters and incidents from the novel which are not in the other film versions.

I didn't like the changes to Professor Waldman (John Cleese). I don't remember him reanimating a monkey's hand and it grabbing F's mate in the book. I just got bored of it, so agreed, not a great film.

 

[Reno]

I didn't like the changes to Professor Waldman (John Cleese). I don't remember him reanimating a monkey's hand and it grabbing F's mate in the book. I just got bored of it, so agreed, not a great film.

I like the inclusion of Justine's death which was what shocked me the most in the novel (though it's an execution rather than a lynching) . Still wish someone would do a faithful adaptation which isn't as silly and overblown as the Branagh version. He's not a good director outside of Shakespeare adaptations.

 

[ringo]

I like the inclusion of Justine's death which was what shocked me the most in the novel (though it's an execution rather than a lynching) . Still wish someone would do a faithful adaptation which isn't as silly and overblown as the Branagh version. He's not a good director outside of Shakespeare adaptations.

Yes when they threw her off the parapet was a bit much - irl that would have torn her head off. It was Branagh that ruined it for me though.

 

[DotCommunist]

which Frankenstein never manages to carry out in the book

that makes it sound like he didn't get the chance or was unable. He refused. Not just refused, said he would do it then got an attack of conscience/had a vison. NOW he runs out of hubris? The one thing he could have done to stop the slaughter and bring a shred of hapiness to his creation. Victor is one of literatures biggest wankers imo

 

[starfish]

I'll see if I can find a download.

I watched the Cube which was a great little horror sci fi about a group trapped in a series of cube shaped rooms in a complex. No idea how they arrived, no food etc. They have to escape and some of the cubes are lethal. 6/10. Points deducted for being slightly too long and a bit stingy with the deaths

It's not too bad a film that one. The Horror Channel is your friend for its ilk.

 

[DotCommunist]

Men in Black 3

a suprisingly fun entry to the MiB series where will smith has to go back in time to save the day

 

[Belushi]

The Ghost (Roman Polanski 2010) Decent political thriller about a Blairesque ex-pm.

 

[ringo]

Star Wars Episode 1:The Phantom Menace

My kids decided they wanted to watch the whole lot as they've never seen them other than the odd clip so I got them off a mate. I suggested they watch the original film first but the tiddler claimed to have seen it as a baby and the littlun wanted to watch them in order. The Tiddler got bored after 15 minutes, the littlun loved it but thought Darth Maul had been to a dodgy face painting stall at a school fair
Not seen it since it came out, still slightly underwhelmed. Jar Jar Binks remains one of the most annoying characters committed to film.

 

[trabuquera]

The Deep - 2012 Icelandic film, based on a true story, of a man who survives the shipwreck of a small fishing boat, survives being out in the very very cold North Atlantic ocean overnight, and makes it home alive - but with most of his ideas about life all thrown into a mess because of this horrendous experience. It's slow-moving ... but moving ... because it's all so very low key and undramatic (Nordic stoicism x a million) and because the lead is NOT handsome, or heroic, or exceptional in any way really. So how come he made it through such an epic scrape with death? It's mysterious and makes you think (and so does the film.) If you contrast it with A Perfect Storm, the Hollywood product comes out much worse, seems manipulative and hysterical and overblown compared to this. Also has interesting sequences of eruptions & evacuations on the volcanic islands in Iceland which might, or might not, have inoculated our hero with extra special stoic powers.

 

[Reno]

The Deep - 2012 Icelandic film, based on a true story, of a man who survives the shipwreck of a small fishing boat, survives being out in the very very cold North Atlantic ocean overnight, and makes it home alive - but with most of his ideas about life all thrown into a mess because of this horrendous experience. It's slow-moving ... but moving ... because it's all so very low key and undramatic (Nordic stoicism x a million) and because the lead is NOT handsome, or heroic, or exceptional in any way really. So how come he made it through such an epic scrape with death? It's mysterious and makes you think (and so does the film.) If you contrast it with A Perfect Storm, the Hollywood product comes out much worse, seems manipulative and hysterical and overblown compared to this. Also has interesting sequences of eruptions & evacuations on the volcanic islands in Iceland which might, or might not, have inoculated our hero with extra special stoic powers.

All Is Lost may be a more fair Hollywood comparison than the rubbish A Perfect Storm and I thought that was a pretty good film.

 

[DotCommunist]

Anchorman 2

well, the original lacked wit and charm but made up for it in slapstick and scholcky shock humour. This was more of the same. I dunno, sometimes will ferrel makes me laugh and others it just comes off as cheap i.e 'ho ho this guy is anachronistically racist and sexist and thick'


3/10

 

[The Octagon]

Men in Black 3

a suprisingly fun entry to the MiB series where will smith has to go back in time to save the day

Josh Brolin does a good 'younger Tommy Lee Jones'

 

[DotCommunist]

Josh Brolin does a good 'younger Tommy Lee Jones'

he certainly got the characters dead-pan delivery down pat. I'd rate no3 better than no2

 

[8115]

Bombon el perro. Beautiful Argentinian film about a man and a dog. 5*

 

[Voley]

Getting near the end of the second series of True Detective now. It's been enjoyable and the plot looks like it's still got a few twists left. I can't help but compare it to the first series, though, and it's not in the same league. Still, Colin Farrell's descent into drug hell is good viewing, Vince Vaughan's study in controlled menace is good, and there's some deeply disturbing shit coming out about Rachel McAdam's character, now, too. She acts well, I like her. Whole thing's still missing something, though.

 

[DexterTCN]

Ex Machina (very late to this, obviously)

Excellent little film that is entirely different second time you watch it.

 

[Orang Utan]

World's Greatest Dad - wow someone made a good Robin Williams film. And it was Bobcat Goldthwait, the screechy punk cop off of Police Academy. His debut, Shakes The Clown is also a great film with Williams in it if only for a minute. Must check his other films.

 

[ringo]

Star Wars 2: Attack Of The Clones
Never seen it before, vaguely remember it getting panned by my mates at the time. Very enjoyable apart from a really slow section in the middle with the clumsy love story. The city backgrounds to the action were brilliant, right up there with the best Bolland et al from early 2000AD. Bet it looked good on the big screen. The littlun absolutely loved it and can't wait to get onto the next one, so nice to see it had that kiddie magic quality.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

Star Wars 2: Attack Of The Clones
Never seen it before, vaguely remember it getting panned by my mates at the time. Very enjoyable apart from a really slow section in the middle with the clumsy love story. The city backgrounds to the action were brilliant, right up there with the best Bolland et al from early 2000AD. Bet it looked good on the big screen. The littlun absolutely loved it and can't wait to get onto the next one, so nice to see it had that kiddie magic quality.

My boy was young when these came out so we saw them all at the cinema. Watching with kids helps, their excitement is infectious and helps lower the old critical shields...

 

[Reno]

Watching them with cats makes no difference on the other hand. I know, I've tried. Still crap.

 

[DotCommunist]

elements are ok but the whole is not good. General Greivous was quite good.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

I think all three had good stuff in them....it's the mediocre stuff really stood out.